Yami no Matsuei

I'm absolutely hooked on this drama. It's amazing! I'm just wondering if it has concluded or not. From what I've read, it doesn't seem finished since there are still numerous questions left unanswered. However, I am completely enamored with the manga series. Tsuzuki's character is my favorite. He's such a sweetheart and adds so much humor to the story. The other characters like Tatsumi, Watari, and Hisoka are hilarious as well. There are times when I find myself rereading all the funny scenes over and over again. The artwork is stunningly beautiful, and the storyline matches its beauty. In my view, it's truly a masterpiece.

First things first, to the best of my knowledge, this manga is NOT concluded, and there's no estimated timeline for its completion. There was an unusually long hiatus, followed by volume 12, and now...no clear idea what's next.

Moving on.

Story: 8
The narrative revolves around Asato Tsuzuki and his partner, Hisoka Kurozaki, as they investigate cases for Enmacho as Shinigami. Each investigation presents unique challenges, although a recurring antagonist, Kazutaka Muraki, frequently appears. As the series progresses, storylines become more interconnected, revealing additional character backgrounds. I rate the Story an 8 because many elements feel unfinished, which seems odd at this stage of the manga. Perhaps this will be resolved later, necessitating a reevaluation, but currently, it doesn't fully satisfy me.

Art: 6
This score is purely subjective. Yami no Matsuei began in the '90s, so it reflects that era's art style. I prefer more contemporary styles. I did find some chapters online that were entirely revamped, indicating that the artwork does evolve over time. It appears this change occurred after the hiatus, which makes sense. Still, I stick with a 6 for the art.

Character: 9
I absolutely love the characters in this series; they're richly developed. However, the unresolved aspects mentioned under Story affect this rating too, especially concerning the main character. That's why it's a 9 instead of a perfect 10. All characters are engaging and exhibit great depth in various scenarios. I truly enjoy them.

Enjoyment: 10
Despite its flaws, I adore this manga. I sped through it in about three days. I'm very disappointed it's not finished since there's much happening, and I NEED TO KNOW! This manga masterfully teases bits of the overarching story to keep you hooked, interspersed with captivating arcs that draw you in completely.

Overall: 8
It has its imperfections, remains incomplete, and can be frustrating, but it's GOOD. An 8 feels appropriate. I sincerely hope the manga won't be abandoned. One source indicated the author had extensive plans for her story and was eager to continue as long as sales remained strong. I hope she still feels that way.

Note: This could address all my concerns with the series, but financially, I'm constrained. I read this online in its entirety. As widely known, translations aren't always flawless. Much gets lost in translation. Keep this in mind when deciding if it's worth picking up.

I started reading this manga back in high school, and although I loved it then, after years of putting it off, my opinion has changed.

Admittedly, while I was a shounen-ai fangirl during my teenage years, I have since moved on. I still enjoy the genre, but not as much as when I was going through puberty. Keeping that in mind, please bear with me.

Characters: I begin with this aspect because, sadly, it's what ultimately brought down the entire manga for me. The main character, Tsuzuki, is actually a significant issue for me. Although I generally dislike the "main character is a total idiot but secretly powerful" trope, this one takes it to the extreme. Tsuzuki himself doesn't necessarily bother me, but his actions do. He's been dead for over fifty years yet remains haunted by his past. He's one of the most powerful characters in the cast, with some incredibly strong allies at his disposal, yet he needs the assistance of a recently deceased 17-year-old (depending on the language you read) to fend off the sexual advances of another man (apparently, he doesn't know the meaning of no or even how to move). It's not cute; it's frustrating. A character must evolve as the story progresses, and although we see a conclusion to his story, most arcs focus on how haunted he is by his past life and how he can't seem to get a grip on himself (Muraki's constant advances, the possession arc).

Without giving away any spoilers, there are many adult themes such as rape involved. Normally, I hate rape stories as they're often cheap gimmicks to make us feel for a character or detest another. However, credit where it's due, this manga handles it well. The character in question is at war with himself and his attacker/killer regarding the assault, and this is mentioned multiple times. But it's only glossed over. The main character's emotional trauma overshadows the horrific event that occurred recently, placing this young character as the "adult" of the situation. There are even instances where the victim is forced to meet the attacker to "rescue" the main character from him, situations that could have easily been avoided if the main character just DID something instead of acting like a vulnerable child.

All that being said, I actually liked most of the other characters and would have loved to see more involving them. Watari, Tatsumi, and some others were done quite well.

Art: I love the art of this manga. Even years later, I still adore it and actually adopted much of it into my own style when I was younger. It's crisp, detailed, and beautiful. You can understand everything that's happening, even in the most chaotic scenes. You can easily distinguish one character from another. Even the gore scenes are beautifully executed.

Story: I enjoyed the theme of the story and even multiple arcs. Personally, I adore manga and anime involving supernatural elements, youkai, shikigami, horror, and gore. And of course, a cast of good-looking guys thrown into the mix. I enjoyed the antagonist as I was supposed to hate him, and I did. He felt threatening, and the events leading up to him felt full and complete.

Final grade: B-

Pros: Beautiful art. Beautiful character designs. Good story concept.

Cons: The characters themselves can be frustrating in their clichéd personalities. Don't think too hard when reading, or else most of it falls apart.

Before I start, I want to clarify that I'm not a yaoi fangirl. While I support all kinds of pairings, I wouldn't consider myself a hardcore yaoi enthusiast. Although this manga does have elements suggestive of shonen-ai, it's not the main focus. This manga can be enjoyed by anyone, including those who like yaoi for its subtext between the three main characters. However, an open mind is essential.

I picked up this manga because I find shinigami fascinating. Stories involving shinigami, similar to Full Moon O Sagashite or Black Butler, really pique my interest. The first volume, which I own along with the first eight volumes, starts with a one-shot story from before the main series. It features Tsuzuki but with a different partner than in the main storyline. This chapter isn't necessary to begin with and might even confuse readers compared to the rest of the series.

The Nagasaki arc follows, where Tsuzuki teams up with Hisoka, encounters a vampire, and battles Muraki, who becomes the recurring villain. This arc also appears in the anime. Some parts felt rushed due to its short length, but it provides a strong introduction to Hisoka and explains how Juohcho operates. Future stories include a violinist who gains a contract with the devil through a cornea transplant, a serial killer on a cruise ship, a trip to Hokkaido, a New Year’s martial arts competition, an infiltration of a Catholic church, a humorous adventure where Tsuzuki gets trapped in the Count's storybook, a haunted inn investigation, and a Kyoto serial killer case.

There are also side stories about Watari and his experiments, mostly attempts at creating a sex-change potion to explore the female mind. These are always funny. Despite the cases being rarely groundbreaking, what makes the story shine is how it uses these cases to develop the psyches of the shinigami. The stories are gripping and entertaining, especially when combined with character dynamics.

Story: 8/10

Matsushita's art is beautiful. Most characters are bishonen or cute young girls. The artwork improves significantly from the first three volumes, which were already above average. Initially, the page flow could be difficult to follow and cluttered, but volumes 7 and 8 are stunningly detailed. This continues into current arcs. Matsushita's skill with drawing animals, such as Byakko and other shikigami, also improves. After volume 11, the series went on hiatus due to a hand injury. It resumed around 2010/2011, reportedly requiring a change in her drawing style. Her new style is simpler but still good enough for me since she continued the series.

Art: 8/10

The characters are the true highlight. Asato Tsuzuki, Hisoka Kurosaki, and Dr. Kazutaka Muraki form the core trio. Tsuzuki and Hisoka start off hostile but grow closer as they help each other heal from their pasts. Muraki, the antagonist, uses their pain against them while harboring romantic and sexual attraction towards Tsuzuki. He's a well-developed villain despite his heinous actions. Other supporting characters include Yutaka Watari, Seiichiro Tatsumi, and Chief Konoe. Watari provides comic relief and scientific expertise. Tatsumi is a control freak obsessed with money but secretly cares for Tsuzuki. The Gushoshin twins and the Count add more depth to the cast.

Characters: 10/10

I read up to the first nine volumes, hoping Viz continues releasing more. Matsushita wrote bonus stories about Oriya and Muraki's fiancée Ukyou after her injury. They hint at unresolved conflicts and ongoing plot developments. The series shifts tones frequently, from lighthearted to serious. The anime focuses more on key arcs but lacks some manga details. Both versions are enjoyable, though I respect the original manga more.

Enjoyment: 9/10

Overall: 9/10